Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1887-12-22
SOLDERING IN DAKOTA.
keniniseenecsofan Expedition az iinst
the Indians In 1854.

Suddenly they found their retreat ell,
on by about 40 Indians springing up be.
tween them and camp. Their only chance
for escape was to get to the river, but in
their desperate ride for life Sergean,
Murphy's horse was shot down, and before
he could get up the Indians were upon
him and killed him. His two companions
succeeded in reaching the river, and 20,
back to camp at dnk. The Sergeant's q
body was sent for the next day. broueh,
into camp and buried. On the 9th we re.
ceived word that Capt. Fisk and the voun =
teers were on tier way back, SO we pack
ed up and started down the river, reaching
Ft. Sully October 7th. Companies b, HI,
and X were left at Sully TO 20 :sto winter
/ quarters, the rest Of the command going
to other posts. We began getting things
ready for winter, with Major House in COM
mand. We were issued -four instead Of
hard tack, but had considerable trouble in
finding any one TO bake for US. Finally |
was induced TO take hold of the bakery
department and had much better luck
deal Of sport over one batch Of bread l
loayes for cannon balls to kill Indians.
But then We were soldering and did not
expect things as elegant as when at home.
After being in the fort while saw some
eight or ten Indians drawing ratIens.
Upon inquiry learned they were in the
employ Of the government trying to get
the woman held captive by the Indians.
These Indians came and vent as they
pleased until one day in November one OF
these Indians came into the fort and said
they had the woman and would soon bring
her in. On the evening Of December 7th
another Indian came bearing letter from
the woman. She said the Indians told
her they would be at the fort next day.
She also warned us there was q large band
Of Indians following them up and they in
tended to take tie FCrt. About o'clock
In the morning of December 9Th We saw a
small squad OF Indians coming over the
bluffs about two miles to the northwest.
and close behind long train of Iniians
following them Orders were given to
close the four corner gates, and the guards
stationed at the big gate on the south.
which was left open. The Indians came
around 10 the gate, and as they did so
recognized them as the ones who had been
drawing ratIons. They rode in through
the gate with the white woman on a pony
ell bundled up in buffalo robes, as it was
. frosty morning. As soon as tie big gate
slammed shut behind her the woman ex-
G aimed MY God, am / free womanH
Those Indians who were following her
we're close M to the fort when the guards
swung the big gate to. We Immediately
prepared for action, but they went on
down tn river and CT ossed Oa the ice TO
Al 4. A. 4. II 81
u.s. The woman was given quarters with
a soldier and his wife. Those Indians
that were following up were a part Of the
same Indians We had been fighting IN the
summer on our trp to the Yellowstone.
They remained on the Island week or
two and then departed. | saw and talked
with the captive frequently IN the fort,
and learLed her experience With the In
dianS. She was very intelligent Young
married woman named Mis-. Kelley.
Herself and husband left Missouri with
two four horse teams and joined an i'm
migrant train bound for the mountains,
the previous spring. Somewhere on the
Platte rlver, in Nebraska, they were at
tackled by Indians, a great many killed
and herself and little girl taken captive.
Her Husband was shot bat she did not
learn whether fatally or not. About dusk
on the evening Of capture she was placed
on a pony, with the little girl behind her,
and started north with the Indians. After
travelling q short distance and darkness
had settled over the earth they passed
through some very tall grass w3ich came
up to the pony's back. OF course they
were surrounded by the Indians, but she
concluded there was possibility OF the
little girl escaping. s. she whispered to
her TO slip dewn off the pony and lie still
In the grass until they had all passed, and
then return to the train. The little girl
lid so. and ~ss not missed by the Indians
until the next morning. Mrs. Kelley,
however, learned nothing further Of her
escape. While we were fighting the In
dams ut the battle Of Takahlakuta and
through the Bad Lands Mrs. Kelley vas
with them. She was always kept back to
the rear, but was allowed to watch us
through a field glass which the Indians
had, She could readily watch our move
ments, and even see the buttons on our
coats
The hrst time We could send mail down
the river Mrs. Eelly wrote TO her home IN
Missouri, informing her relatives OF her
whereabouts. On the 9th OF February
| her letter was answered In person by her
husband. He arrived in company with a
I few OF our boys who had been down to
Fl Thompson for mail. The joyous
meeting between these two young people,
40 rudely separated can be better i'm
apiued than described. Mr.. Kelley in
formed MS the little girl whom his wife
had assisted to escape from the indiana
did rot get pack to the train, nor was she
ever heard Of The next day the Majoi
eaye Mr.. and Mrs. Kelley an ambulance
and escort to Fl. Randall. from which
point they took the stage, and the happ,
couple return I'd to their home in Mo.
Yhere we're quite number Of indians
that claimed TO be friendly who wer'
permitted to stay at the fort that winter
Among them was the young Blackfoo
guide who had been so badly WOUNDED
Ia the Bad Lands. He had nearly recoy
cred BY this time, physically, but mental
ly, he still retained bitter feelini
. toward those he held responsible for hi
injury. He frequently came to me an
placing his hand over the wound woul
saw "seachy"-it hurts me. Toward sprin
when the weather became more favorai
y the In iisns at the fort packed up an
started out on hunting expedition in a
east or north east direction. Sometim
after one OF the Indians returned to tn
fort and reported they had captured thre
hostile Indians and bad them Ia thei
CANT. Major House sent out som
twenty soldiers accompanied by the Black
foot guide, to get the three ludians an
bring them into the fort. The detail re
turned in n few days with the Indian
4 who were put In the guard house, Ih'
/ bows said they had TO watch both the hos
. tiles and the Biaekfoot guide. who SCENE
da,cyuiped IN XIII the three Indians IL h